The 17th century was a period of great turbulence in British history and this was reflected in art and design. The period began with the ending of the Tudor dynasty and the rise of the Stuarts. In the middle of the century, the Civil War and execution of Charles I saw Puritanism take hold. After Charles II's restoration to the throne in 1660, a new period of decadence began.
Portrait Miniatures: Royal Portraiture 1580-1625
Miniatures were particularly useful to the monarchy. They were small enough to be given personally, sometimes in a public ceremony, as a sign of the monarch's favour.
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Portrait Miniatures: Post-Restoration Period
Samuel Cooper carried on his successful business in London even after the execution of Charles I in 1649. When Charles II returned from exile in France in 1660, Cooper imme…
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17th-Century Theatre
The 17th century was a turbulent time for British theatre, from lavish court masques to the closure of the theatres under Cromwell and the decadence of Restoration drama.
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The Origins of Ballet
Ballet and opera began in the 17th century, with the elaborate spectacles devised at European courts. These were flamboyant entertainments used to celebrate marriages or sh…
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Audio: Early 17th-Century Costume
Theatre designer Jenny Tiramani discusses early 17th century costume.
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Sir Paul Pindar's House
The façade of Sir Paul Pindar's house, originally in Bishopsgate, London, is an outstanding survival of a London timber-framed house built before the Great Fire of 1666.
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'Neptune and Triton' by Gianlorenzo Bernini, 1620–2
Created by Gianlorenzo (Giovanni Lorenzo) Bernini in 1622–3, this sculpture depicts the life-size figure of Neptune, who wields his trident in a firm gesture of command, as…
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Chintz: Indian Textiles for the West
In the past hundred years or so, 'chintz' has come to mean any floral printed furnishing fabric. Its origins as a hand-drawn and dyed fabric from Indi…
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